Digital Nomad Visa comparison
Best European Digital Nomad Visas (2026): Portugal vs Spain vs Italy vs Greece
Four European countries run digital nomad visas, and they differ on the income you must show, who qualifies, how long they last, whether they cut your tax, and whether they build toward residence. This compares Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece side by side for 2026 - including where the tax breaks people expect do not actually apply.
Side by side
Portugal vs Spain vs Italy vs Greece (2026)
| Country | Minimum income | Who it's for | Duration | Tax angle | Leads to residence? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal (D8) | ~EUR 3,680/month (4x minimum wage) | Remote employees & freelancers earning from abroad | 1-year stay visa, or 2-year residence permit (renewable) | Taxed as a resident if you stay; NHR is closed, IFICI is narrow | Yes - residence route to PR (5 yrs) and citizenship (now 10 yrs) |
| Spain | ~EUR 2,849/month (200% of SMI) | Remote workers; max 20% of income from Spanish clients | 1-year visa (consulate) or 3-year permit (in-country), up to 5 yrs | Employees can elect the Beckham regime (24% to EUR 600k, 47% above) | Yes - PR after 5 yrs, citizenship after 10 |
| Italy | ~EUR 24,789/year statutory (consulates often ~EUR 28,000) | Highly-qualified non-EU remote workers (degree or experience) | 1 year, renewable annually | No automatic break; ordinary tax unless a separate regime applies | Yes - renewable permit; citizenship after 10 yrs of genuine residence |
| Greece | EUR 3,500/month net | Remote workers for employers/clients outside Greece only | 12-month visa, then a 2-year residence permit (renewable) | 50% relief generally does NOT apply to pure nomads (needs Greek-source work) | Permit renewable; path to PR/citizenship is uncertain for nomads |
As of 2026. Income thresholds track each country's minimum wage and reset annually; Italy's is a yearly statutory floor that consulates often apply higher. Tax treatment depends on whether you become resident (over 183 days) and is confirmed with a licensed adviser.
You want to settle and build toward citizenship
Portugal's D8 residence route and Spain's visa both lead to permanent residence after five years and citizenship later. Italy's permit is renewable but built around annual remote work; Greece's path from the nomad permit to citizenship is the least certain.
You want to lower your tax while abroad
Be careful here - most of these visas confer no tax break by themselves. The clearest is Spain, where employee nomads can elect the 24% Beckham regime. Greece's 50% relief generally does NOT apply to a pure nomad (it needs Greek-source work), and Portugal's NHR is closed. Spending over 183 days makes you a tax resident.
You want the easiest income requirement to meet
Spain has the lowest straightforward monthly threshold (about EUR 2,849). Italy's statutory floor (EUR 24,789/year) is lower still on paper, but it adds a high-qualification requirement and consulates often ask for around EUR 28,000. Greece (EUR 3,500) and Portugal (EUR 3,680) sit higher.
You want flexibility on clients and stay
Portugal accepts both employees and freelancers earning from abroad with no Spanish-style local-client cap. Greece requires your work to be for clients outside Greece. Italy's gate is the high-qualification rule. Match the visa to how and for whom you actually work.
Portugal D8 visa
Employees & freelancers; residence route to PR and citizenship.
Spain digital nomad visa
Lowest monthly income bar; 24% Beckham option for employees.
Italy digital nomad visa
Highly-qualified only; EUR 30k insurance; renewable yearly.
Greece digital nomad visa
EUR 3,500/month; foreign clients only; 12-month visa to 2-year permit.
Common questions
Questions before you choose a visa.
Which European digital nomad visa has the lowest income requirement?
Spain has the lowest straightforward monthly threshold, around EUR 2,849 (200% of the minimum wage). Italy's statutory floor is lower on paper (about EUR 24,789/year) but it requires a high qualification and consulates often ask for roughly EUR 28,000. Greece requires EUR 3,500/month net and Portugal about EUR 3,680/month. All these figures track each country's minimum wage and change annually.
Do digital nomad visas come with a tax break?
Mostly not by default. Spain is the clearest: employee nomads can elect the Beckham regime (24% flat on Spanish employment income up to EUR 600,000). Greece has a 50% relief, but it generally does NOT apply to a pure digital nomad because it requires Greek-source work, which the nomad visa forbids. Portugal's NHR is closed to new arrivals, and Italy's visa confers no automatic break. In all of them, spending more than 183 days a year makes you a tax resident.
Which digital nomad visas lead to permanent residence or citizenship?
Portugal's D8 residence route and Spain's visa both lead to permanent residence after five years and to citizenship later (Portugal raised its citizenship requirement to 10 years in May 2026; Spain is generally 10 years). Italy's permit is renewable and citizenship is possible after 10 years of genuine residence. Greece's nomad permit is renewable, but whether the time counts toward its 5-year residence and 7-year citizenship clocks is uncertain - confirm with counsel.
Can I work for local clients on these visas?
Mostly no. Spain allows up to 20% of your income from Spanish clients; Greece requires your employers and clients to be outside Greece; Portugal and Italy are built around income earned from abroad. If you intend to serve the local market, a digital nomad visa is usually the wrong route.
What makes Italy's digital nomad visa different?
Italy adds a 'highly qualified' requirement - a degree or equivalent professional qualification or experience - which the others do not. It also requires health insurance of at least EUR 30,000 and proof of accommodation in your own name (a lease or deed, not a hotel booking). It became operational in April 2024.
How long does each visa last?
Portugal offers either a one-year stay visa or, on the residence route, a two-year permit that renews. Spain gives a one-year visa from a consulate or a three-year permit applied from inside Spain, up to five years. Italy is one year, renewable annually. Greece is a 12-month visa that converts to a renewable two-year residence permit.